By Honorary Reporter Foteini Chatzoudi from Greece

Hollywood stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway on April 8 attended a media event in Seoul to promote their latest film, "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

Both actors at their news conference at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul received as gifts specially designed red high heels modeled after kkotsin (traditional flower-patterned shoes).

Actors Meryl Streep (left) and Anne Hathaway on April 8 hold their customized high heels at a news conference for their film "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

Both pairs of shoes were designed by the Seoul-based fashion brand Riu & Viu, whose founder and chief designer is Kim Yeji. The company transforms traditional clothing into contemporary fashion by highlighting each piece's artistic and functional essence.

In an email interview on April 9, Kim explained how she incorporated Korean cultural heritage into customizing the high heels.

Kim Yeji (Riu & Viu)

"The core of the project was to reinterpret the iconic red heel by incorporating Korean elements into the design," she said. "The first step was to harmonize the essential elements of traditional Korean footwear, especially the distinctive Korean toe, a defining feature of Joseon-era shoes, and their balanced proportions with the structure of a high heel."

Since the concept was centered around a red heel, the designer said she drew inspiration from traditional artifacts where the color red holds a strong symbolic meaning. She mentioned the hwarot (traditional bridal robe) and juchil najeon, a red lacquered mother-of-pearl craft, to develop the color palette and material expression.

Streep's shoes featuring a crane design (left) and Hathaway's pair sporting peonies (Riu & Viu)

"The motifs are rooted in traditional Korean symbolism," she said, adding that the peony represents prosperity and wealth and the butterfly joy, love and happiness. The crane signifies longevity and nobility and clouds auspicious energy and a sense of the sacred.

"Based on these meanings, I developed the two pairs with distinct narratives," Kim said. "For Anne Hathaway's shoes, I used peony and butterfly motifs to express a vibrant and lively beauty through embroidery in a wide range of colors."

"In contrast, for Meryl Streep's shoes, I incorporated crane and cloud motifs using delicate embroidery in soft tones such as grey, jade, light pink and ivory. The surface was then further embellished with small pieces of mother-of-pearl, creating an elegant and auspicious atmosphere."

"The project was carried out through very close communication with the organizers. The first challenge was to establish a new structure and silhouette for the shoe," she added. "From there, the process required careful coordination across design and production to naturally translate traditional motifs onto a contemporary form."

"In addition to the shoes, we also developed a custom box to complete the overall presentation of the gift. The box was finished with gold foil detailing, reflecting traditional Korean decorative techniques in a modern context."

On what she hopes this design conveys about Korean fashion to the world, she said, "I believe that Korean tradition has evolved into a distinct design language. Rather than being merely a legacy of the past, it serves as a unique expressive element that can be actively applied within contemporary design."

jcy0531@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.